Greeks Bearing Gifts

DAVID TICKNER

Recommended by Book Club member Chris Jackson

Synopsis

Sent to Athens to investigate a claim from a fellow German for a ship that has sunk, Bernie Gunther takes an instant dislike to the claimant. When he discovers the ship in question once belonged to a Greek Jew deported to Auschwitz, he is convinced the sinking was no accident but an avenging arson attack. Then the claimant is found dead and Bernie is once again drawn inexorably back to the dark history of the Second World War, and the deportation of the Jews of Salonika - now Thessaloniki.

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I had received several recommendations to read Philip Kerr, but this was the first one I had managed to read. I found it a compelling read about a piece of history which is not as well known as some others. And his treatment of the ambiguities that followed the end of the war was very interesting . I would give it four stars.
Jenny Rowe

From:Jenny Rowe

Published:
11 August 2019

This is number 13 in the series of detective thriller stories of Bernie Gunter and is set in 1957 Greece and Germany post WW2. The background is the plundered gold from the Jewish inhabitants of Salonika and the removal of the population to concentration camps. Divers who are trying to locate this gold aboard the ship “Doris” are attacked and the ship sunk. This is a job for loss adjuster Bernie Gunter, now known as Cristof Ganz.

I found some of the names difficult to follow and was surprised to learn from the author’s note how much of the story was based on true characters from the time. Philip Kerr was a well known British author who died in March 2018.

I found it a compelling read in a complex yarn. Not my usual type of book and I would give it 3 stars.

From:Marian Lusher

Published:
08 July 2019

Thank you to Chris for recommending this book . Once I started reading it I could not put it down. The main character is not a particularly endearing but recognises his short comings and flaws and the part he played in the war. The twist at the end was revealing in that many people still had a lot to hide and would use all sorts of deception to survive. i was surprised that many of the characters ,apart from the leaders of countries, were based on real people. A good read.

From:Ruth Gould

Published:
10 April 2019

Greeks Bearing Gifts by Philip Kerr

This thriller is set in Germany and Greece in 1957 in the aftermath of the war. Much of what took place during it is already being obliterated or forgotten from the German point of view. The main character is aware that he, like many Germans, has much that he is not proud about in his recent past during the war.

The story is complex, fast-moving and written with a great deal of humour. I was very interested in the authors note at the end which shows that much of the story has a factual basis. It is quite astounding what Germany got away with.

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